non-traditional learners services

I am a non-traditional student being one year into a doctorate at almost 48 years old. I have the advantage over many of my classmates of being in school fulltime. One of the services that has been the most helpful for me is through the Graduate Student Association. During the regular term, this group sponsors a bring your own lunch on Fridays gathering. They arrange speakers on topics of importance for each week; the speakers are persons from the university who have information/experience that is critical to the graduate school experience. Attendance is sparse sometimes; it seems to ebb and flow with the normal deadlines of the semester and with the specific topic. This forum has not only provided me with information but has increased my confidence, shown me that I have problems endemic to the doctorate experience, and has introduced me to opportunities that I would not have sought out otherwise. I believe this idea could be adapted to undergraduate needs of non-traditional learners.Tammie PowellUniversity of South Carolina--columbia